Cleaning protective device



y 1963 M. H. FRIEDLER 3,098,375

CLEANING PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1959 Ema-E (35" Enos-M41- comma HHEQE HUD Z505 INVENTOR.

MAX H. FRIEDLER ATTORIVE).

United States Patent 3,098,375 CLEANING PROTECTIVE DEVIIIE Max H. Friedler, Lewiston, Maine, assignor to Sat-A Products, Inc., Lewiston, Maine, a corporation Filed Dec. 21, I959, Ser. No. 860,968 2 Qlaims. (Cl. 68-235) The present invention relates to a device designed to protect buttons, buckles, ornaments and other objects on textile, fabric or clothing particularly during the agitation of cleaning. A specific application of this invention consists of its use to save fancy buttons on Womens dresses from breakage or loss during commercial dry cleaning and to protect against dangerous sparks from metal-to-metal contact, in particular which might occur during any tumbling operation.

In the past there have been various button shielding or protecting devices of cloth, metal and synthetic rubber. Gauldin in his US. Patent No. 2,410,208 provided a protector of a double thickness material which was temporarily attached to the garment by means of the protected buttons themselves being buttoned into button holes of the device and De Cecco in his US. Patent No. 2,696,725 provided a protector with a plurality of bandable pins which passed over the button and through the fabric of the garment.

In the past oftentimes, buttons, buckles, ornaments and similar attached articles have had to be removed before cleaning because the agitation of the cleaning process tended to damage the buttons, buckles, ornaments, etc. This is particularly necessary in commercial dry cleaning where the items to be cleaned are agitated mechanically in large drums. Buttons not removed tended to break or tear loose or get lost in the machines drain. The removal of the buttons protected the buttons and the garments from injury in the cleaning, but this was both expensive and time consuming and increased the possibility of the loss of irreplaceable buttons.

According to the present invention, a simple inexpensive shield or protective device formed from a strip of material is provided which may be easily adapted to various bu-tton sizes, buckles and zippers and is easily attached, easily removed and one which provided ample protection during any and all phases of a cleaning process, especially a dry cleaning process.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple inexpensive, adaptable protecting device to protect garmerits and buttons, buckles and zippers during a cleaning process.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, residing in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, will become more apparent from the description of the specific embodiments hereinafter following. It will be understood that certain features of the invention may be utilized other than in the entire arrangement disclosed.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or product, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation, or any of various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, practical constructions embodying certain details of the invention being illustrated and described, but only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the statutes for the disclosure of operative embodiments, but Without attempting to disclose all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

Although such novel features as are believed to be char- "ice acteristic in the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which they may be carried out, may be better understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 shows a strip cut in the outline of the protective device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows the strip of FIGURE 1 in position for the introduction of a button.

FIGURE 3 shows the strip of FIGURE 1 with a button engaged and arms overlapped.

FIGURE 4 shows a formed strip of FIGURE 1 folded over and stapled with a button engaged.

FIGURE 5 shows a bottom view of the formed protective strip as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 shows a side elevation of the formed proteetive strip in FIGURE 5 as viewed from line 6-6.

FIGURE 7 shows an alternate embodiment of the protective device of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 shows a further embodiment of the protective device of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 shows the protective device of FIGURE 8 folded with the arms engaged and the snap open.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The protective device 1 as shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprises a unitary flexible strip 2 of leather, imitation leather, plastic, cardboard or cloth, oftentimes stiff, in a form adapted to be foldable about at its middle. The middle of the strip 2 may be provided with a folding crease 3 (FIGURES 7, 8, 9) or a plurality of folding creases 3 (FIGURES l, 2, 3) to permit folding over buttons, buckles and zippers and similar articles. The use of multiple folding creases (FIGURES 1, 2, 3) permits a more flexible adaption of the strip 2 for folding over bulkier sizes and shapes. The bottom portion 4 of the strip 2 is divided into arms 5, 6 which radiate from an eyelet 7 (FIGURES 1, 2, 7, 8, 9).

The embodiment of the protective device shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is held together over a button with a staple 8.

The protective device as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 has aifixed a permanent male snap element 9 and a female snap element 10. Arm 5 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 has a further eyelet 11 through which the male snap element 9 may be passed.

In use the arms 5 and 6 are separated (FIGURE 2) and a button slid between the arms so that its thread is engaged in the eyelet '7. The arms 5, 6 are then overlapped and the strip 2 folded over the overlapped arms and fastened in position with a staple snap, pin or other similar device.

The folding over of the arms 5, 6 causes the bottom or second portion 4 of the strip 2 to form a cuplike enclosure which when covered over by the folding and fastening of the first portion of strip 2 cradles the button, buckle, zipper or other similar device and reinforces it against damage during any cleaning operation.

Although the eyelet 7 at the base of the arms 5, 6 serves as .a space for the extra diameter of a buttons thread, it also serves to prevent the tearing of the arms 5, 6, especially when the arms 5, 6 are separated for the introduction of a button or other device to be shielded. Although the protective device may function without such eyelet, it is advantageous to have such an eyelet provided. An additional eyelet 12 may be provided as an adapter for different button sizes. More than one such eyelet may be provided in any of the protective devices for various button or buckle sizes or to engage various button thread arrangements.

The protective device may be disposed of after its 3 using. The embodiment in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 closed with a staple 8 is generally made of cardboard and used only once. The embodiment of the protective device shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 is usually made of leather, leatherette, plastic or some similar substance and is reuseable.

The arm 5 in FIGURES 8 and 9 has a permanent eyelet 11 which is placed over the male snap element 9. The arm 5 is then held in its overlap cup-forming position (FIGURE 9) and then the female snap element is snapped closed. After use the protective device may be unsnapped and set aside for reuse.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A foldable protective device adapted to shield an object atfixed to clothing during the cleaning process comprising a unitary flexible strip, said unitary strip including a first portion, a second portion, said second portion characterized by a slit defining a first arm and a second arm,

and fastening means adapted to fasten said arms in overlapping position to said first portion said overlapping position of said arms forming said second portion into a cuplike enclosure over said first portion, enclosing said object aflixed to clothing.

2. A reusable protective device comprising a unitary flexible strip including, a first portion, said first portion including fastening means, a second portion including a first arm, said first arm including an eyelet, a second arm, and said second arm including fastening means adapted to receive said first arm eyelet thereover, said second arm fastening means being further adapted to receive said first portion fastening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,104 Barnes Apr. 18, 1916 2,760,200 Shamyer Aug. 28, 1956 2,857,599 Wallace Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,735 France July 13, 1954 (Addition to No. 994,741) 696,080 Germany Sept. 10, 1940 

1. A FOLDABLE PROTECTIVE DEVICE ADAPTED TO SHIELD AN OBJECT AFFIXED TO CLOTHING DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS COMPRISING A UNITARY FLEXIBLE STRIP, SAID UNITARY STRIP INCLUDING A FIRST PORTION, A SECOND PORTION, SAID SECOND PORTION CHARACTERIZED BY A SLIT DEFINING A FIRST ARM AND A SECOND ARM, AND FASTENING MEANS ADAPTED TO FASTEN SAID ARMS IN OVERLAPPING POSITION TO SAID FIRST PORTION SAID OVERLAPPING POSITION OF SAID ARMS FORMING SAID SECOND PORTION INTO A CUPLIKE ENCLOSURE OVER SAID FIRST PORTION, ENCLOSING SAID OBJECT AFFIXED TO CLOTHING. 